Mar 10, 2025 19:00:00

Experts advise that listening to music is a good way to make exercise a habit

It is widely known that exercise is important for health, but it is difficult to develop an exercise habit,

with 50% of people who join a new exercise program dropping out within a few months . Andrew Danso , a researcher in music therapy at the University of Jyväskylä in Finland, advises, 'It's good to exercise while listening to music,' and explains the effects of music on exercise.

How Music Keeps You Moving and Makes Exercise More Fun | Psychology Today
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/music-for-the-ageing-brain/202502/why-50-of-people-quit-exercise-and-how-music-can-help

There are many reasons why people are unable to develop an exercise habit, including things beyond their control, such as 'there is no space or environment where I can exercise safely' or 'culturally, people are looked upon strangely if they exercise,' but there are also personal factors, such as 'exercise is tiring' or 'exercise is not fun.'

Danso recommends that people who want to develop an exercise habit listen to music while exercising. Music has the effect of distracting people from physical discomfort and making exercise feel easier, so people can continue exercising for longer while listening to music.

A 2009 study showed that people who walked while listening to motivational music reduced their perceived exertion by up to 10% and walked longer, and a 2025 review and meta-analysis found that listening to music significantly improved focus and self-control by distracting from fatigue, especially during moderate-intensity exercise.

Listening to music improves mood and reduces anxiety, so it can be expected to turn exercise from a chore into a 'fun experience.' In fact, research has shown that when people exercise while listening to their 'own favorite

music ,' they can increase the intensity of their exercise and still maintain a 'good mood' compared to when they did not listen to music.

A 2009 study found that listening to your favorite music while performing an endurance task of holding a handgrip dynamometer increased the time it took to fatigue by 21%. Danso argues that walking in particular is the most beneficial because it doesn't require much effort and is an exercise that people find pleasant .

A 2020 study also showed that listening to fast-paced music while exercising can make exercise feel less strenuous and increase the intensity of your workout.

It turns out that exercising while listening to fast-paced music makes exercise feel easier - GIGAZINE

To develop an exercise habit, it is helpful to view exercise as a 'fun activity' rather than a 'duty that must be done to maintain health. ' A statement issued by the British Association of Sports Exercise Specialists (BASES) in 2024 (PDF file) emphasizes that whether or not you experience positive emotions while exercising is involved in maintaining your exercise habit. A 2023 study that investigated factors that actually contribute to maintaining exercise habits showed that emotions toward exercise were a stronger predictor than factors such as health knowledge and goals.

'Music is a powerful tool that can increase endurance, improve mood and make exercise more enjoyable,' said Danso. 'Combining music with easy activities like walking has already been shown to increase energy and consistency. Music offers a simple and effective way to get people to move more.'